Blues call up goalie from AHL to replace ailing Elliott

ST. LOUIS — The Blues will have to find a way to survive without goaltender Brian Elliott, at least for now.

St. Louis officially recalled Jordan Binnington from its American Hockey League affiliate in Chicago, a day after Elliott left in the second period of a game against Ottawa at the Scottrade Center. He leads the NHL with a 1.82 goals-against average and had made 16 saves to keep the Blues ahead 2-0 before the Senators rallied late against Jake Allen to hand St. Louis a 3-2 shootout loss.

Elliott has been the primary option for the Blues with an 8-4-1 record, but Allen has posted an impressive 6-2-1 record, despite two losses in his last three appearances. He ranks eighth in the NHL with a 2.12 goals-against average, and his .920 save percentage is tied for 12th.

Binnington has had ample success of his own in Chicago, posting a 6-2-1 record with a 1.89 GAA. The 21-year-old was drafted by St. Louis in the third round of the 2011 draft and has never made an NHL appearance.

The Blues have not released a timeline on when Elliott will return, and coach Ken Hitchcock is expected to address the situation following practice Wednesday afternoon.